'I've felt for a long time that there must be more in the call to Baba Yaga's cottage than the fairytales tell us. Natalia Clarke has drawn on her Siberian heritage and personal insights in this powerful piece to show us how we might approach this powerful Goddess. This is a book for anyone drawn to dark Goddesses and Crone Goddesses. It's also the first map I've seen that explores the forests in search of wild Gods who will not make themselves comfortable in our homes or on our altars. It's groundbreaking stuff.' Nimue Brown A unique perspective on working with Baba Yaga, Slavic Earth Goddess of mystery, intrigue and ambiguity, through apprenticing into her magic. In this introductory work Baba Yaga is re-defined outside of the dogmatic portrayals and becomes one of the most powerful and influential figures in an individual spiritual practice. An accessible guide to building a devotional practice, Pagan Portals – Baba Yaga is a journey of discovery and collaboration with deity, written to aid your own psycho-spiritual progression and offer a unique presentation of how we might work with the Goddess, psychologically and spiritually.

Baba Yaga is a well-known witch from the folklore tradition of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. A fascinating and colorful character, she resembles witches of other traditions but is in many ways unique. Living in the forest in a hut that stands and moves on chicken legs, she travels in a mortar with a pestle and sweeps away her tracks with a broom. In some tales she tries to harm the protagonist, while in others she is helpful. This book investigates the image and ambiguity of Baba Yaga in detail and considers the meanings she has for East Slavic culture. Providing a broad survey of folktales and other sources, it is the most thorough study of Baba Yaga yet published and will be of interest to students of anthropology, comparative literature, folklore, and Slavic and East European studies.

A beautiful illustrated collection of fairy tales about the most iconic and active of Russian magical characters

You thought the Wicked Witch of the West was evil, but have you met the Wicked Witch of Eastern Europe? If you’re familiar at all with Baba Yaga, you’ll likely say she is a cannibalistic witch. This infamous Slavic fairy-tale character is also perhaps one of the most complex you’ll find. While most others are strictly good or bad, Baba Yaga can be both simultaneously. Tales about Baba Yaga have terrified children throughout the ages. Not all are scary, though; some are enlightening or amusing. But who was she really? Did she ever exist? And, more importantly, does she still exist today? This in-depth study of Baba Yaga looks at not only academic studies, but it also digs deeper into her character and looks at popular and even controversial topics. You’ll discover a side of the witch as she is perceived by those who say they have had an encounter with her. By the time you finish reading her story, you’ll either want to crawl back into bed with the covers over you, or you’ll seek out the witch of witches for her guidance.

Working with the Greek goddess, Demeter, can help us to better understand what it means to reconnect with our own divinity, birth the potential that exists within us, and nurture ourselves and others. Pagan Portals - Demeter begins with a foundational look at the ancient Greek myths and many aspects of the Goddess. This is followed by an exploration of the rites sacred to Demeter and the impact that these rites had on women in ancient Greek society. Building on these foundational elements, the book explores the various themes and lessons inherent in Demeter’s myth. These include accessing the divine within, healing the mother wound, manifestation/fertility magic, the mother archetype as a powerful advocate for justice, and conducting shadow work to release that which no longer serves us so that we can experience the rebirth of our own divine sovereignty.

A provocative new theory about fairy tales from one of the world's leading authorities If there is one genre that has captured the imagination of people in all walks of life throughout the world, it is the fairy tale. Yet we still have great difficulty understanding how it originated, evolved, and spread—or why so many people cannot resist its appeal, no matter how it changes or what form it takes. In this book, renowned fairy-tale expert Jack Zipes presents a provocative new theory about why fairy tales were created and retold—and why they became such an indelible and infinitely adaptable part of cultures around the world. Drawing on cognitive science, evolutionary theory, anthropology, psychology, literary theory, and other fields, Zipes presents a nuanced argument about how fairy tales originated in ancient oral cultures, how they evolved through the rise of literary culture and print, and how, in our own time, they continue to change through their adaptation in an ever-growing variety of media. In making his case, Zipes considers a wide range of fascinating examples, including fairy tales told, collected, and written by women in the nineteenth century; Catherine Breillat's film adaptation of Perrault's "Bluebeard"; and contemporary fairy-tale drawings, paintings, sculptures, and photographs that critique canonical print versions. While we may never be able to fully explain fairy tales, The Irresistible Fairy Tale provides a powerful theory of how and why they evolved—and why we still use them to make meaning of our lives.

Move Swiftly On Your Own Two Feet, for Baba Yaga You Must Meet Discover ancient and modern Slavic magical practices through stories told by the legendary Baba Yaga herself. Learn about the magic of the sun, moon, and stars, as well as the magic of weather, animals, seasons, stones, food, beeswax, and more. Each chapter includes a piece of the fairy tale of Vasylyna, comments from Baba Yaga, and hands-on tips and techniques from author Madame Pamita. Explore magical activities alongside authentic folktales about the birth of the sun and the land of the blessed ones. Step-by-step instructions show you how to stitch Ukrainian folk embroidery motifs into protective charms, weave wreaths from herbs, make enchanted poppets, and work with the spirits of the forest, the hearth, and the sauna. With a bounty of tips and information, this book teaches you to embrace the beauty of these traditional practices and reclaim your personal magic.